Dirty job preparing for this weekend's annual Ranch Roundup

In a matter of days, real-life ranching cowboys will stampede to the Multi-Purpose Events Center for the 38th annual Texas Ranch Roundup, when working ranches compete for bragging rights and for charitable causes.

Workers on Tuesday were preparing the floor of Kay Yeager Coliseum for the event, transformed from a hockey rink to  a more rodeo-like atmosphere.

Ten ranches will converge on Wichita Falls this weekend for the Ranch Roundup, a fundraiser for the North Texas Rehabilitation Center that has raised, since 1981, more than $3 million.

According to the event's website, a group with Falls Distributing, Budweiser and the North Texas Rehabilitation Center created the first ranch rodeo in the country to honor the working Texas cowboy.

Three charities were selected to receive the proceeds: North Texas Rehabilitation Center, in Abilene, West Texas Boys Ranch, in San Angelo, and West Texas Rehabilitation Center. 

Ten established regional ranches return to compete in rodeo, cooking, art and music/skits to qualify for the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo in November.

Ticket and event information:

• Trade show and daytime events, $5. Friday evening competition, upper $15, family $10 (children $5) and corners $12. Saturday evening competition and awards, upper $18, family $12 (children $6) and corners $15.
• Information: http://texasranchroundup.com or (940) 687-4914